Occupational health and safety is still in full effect and protocol for all business should not only be ongoing as per business OHS program, but is being deemed by Department of Labour and Employment as needing to be reviewed and updated taking into account special mention, risk and mitigation of coronavirus.
It is imperative to note that reporting employee corona virus infections is a company responsibility and there is WCL1 (Not WCL2) procedures to follow. Pro Safety is in overdrive mode not only assisting new clients in actually implementing health and safety programs and site files, but also offering free advise to all business, colleagues and competitors who are not fully aware of what, how, where and when to modify and implement compliance.
Here below is some guidance:
CONTAINMENT / MANAGEMENT OF COVID 19
Guidance for Employers and Employees on COVID-19
This guidance is based on what is currently known about the transmission and severity of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Please check the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) website (www.nicd.ac.za) for updated guidance.Construction sites can play an important role in efforts to control the spread of COVID-19. Employers and Employees can take steps to circulate information about the disease and its potential transmission within their community.
Who is this guidance for?
This guidance document is intended to help employers and employees prevent the spread of COVID-19 among work colleagues.
What is a coronavirus? Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses which may cause illness in animals or humans. In humans, several coronaviruses are known to cause respiratory infections ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases such as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). The most recently discovered coronavirus causes coronavirus disease COVID-19.
What is COVID-19?
COVID-19 is the infectious disease caused by the most recently discovered coronavirus. This new virus and disease were unknown before the outbreak began in Wuhan, China, in December 2019. On 31 December 2019 a cluster of pneumonia cases were reported by the World Health Organization in Wuhan, China. On 7 January 2020 the cause was identified as a new novel coronavirus. The virus is most probably from wild animals held captive in food markets in China. The disease caused by the virus is now known as COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019)
What are the symptoms of COVID-19?
The most common symptoms of COVID-19 are fever, tiredness, and dry cough.
Some patients may have aches and pains, nasal congestion, runny nose, sore throat or diarrhea. These symptoms are usually mild and begin gradually. Some people become infected but do not develop any symptoms and do not feel unwell.
Most people (about 80 per cent) recover from the disease without needing special treatment. Around one out of every six people who gets COVID-19 becomes seriously ill and develops difficulty breathing. Older people, and those with underlying medical problems like high blood pressure, heart problems or diabetes, are more likely to develop serious illness. About two per cent of people with the disease have died. People with fever, cough and difficulty breathing should seek medical attention.
How does COVID-19 spread?
People can catch COVID-19 from others who have the virus. The disease can spread from person to person through small droplets from the nose or mouth which are spread when a person with COVID-19 coughs or exhales. These droplets land on objects and surfaces around the person. They travel only short distances before settling, usually less than 1 meter. This is NOT the same as airborne transmission, where the virus is transmitted while suspended in air for prolonged periods of time. Other people then catch COVID-19 by touching these objects or surfaces, then touching their eyes, nose or mouth. People can also catch COVID- 19 if they breathe in droplets from a person with COVID-19 who coughs out or exhales droplets. This is why it is important to stay more than one meter away from a person who is sick. The incubation period is 14 days (95th percentile = 12.5 days)
Can CoVID-19 be caught from a person who has no symptoms?
The main way the disease spreads is through respiratory droplets expelled by someone who is coughing. The risk of catching COVID-19 from someone with no symptoms at all is very low. However, many people with COVID-19 experience only mild symptoms. This is particularly true at the early stages of the disease. It is therefore possible to catch COVID-19 from someone who has, for example, just a mild cough and does not feel ill.
What can I do to protect myself and prevent the spread of disease?
Protection measures for everyone
Stay aware of the latest information on the COVID-19 outbreak, available on the websites and social media of the national Department of Health (www.health.gov.za), National Institute for Communicable Diseases (www.nicd.ac.za) and World Health Organisation (www.who.int).
Whats App Information Line – 060 012 3456
Most people who become infected will experience mild illness and recover, but it can be more severe for others. Take care of your health and protect others by doing the following:
Regularly and thoroughly wash your hands with soap and water or clean your hands with an alcohol- based hand sanitiser. Why? Washing your hands with soap and water or using alcohol-based hand sanitiser kills viruses that may be on your hands.
Maintain at least one meter distance between yourself and anyone who is coughing or sneezing. Why? When someone coughs or sneezes, they spray small liquid droplets from their nose or mouth which may contain a virus. If you are too close, you can breathe in the droplets, including the COVID-19 virus if the person coughing has the disease.
Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth. Why? Hands touch many surfaces and can pick up viruses. Once contaminated, hands can transfer the virus to your eyes, nose or mouth. From there, the virus can enter your body and can make you sick.
Make sure you, and the people around you, follow good respiratory hygiene. This means covering your mouth and nose with your bent elbow or tissue when you cough or sneeze. Then dispose of the used tissue immediately. Why? Droplets spread viruses. By following good respiratory hygiene, you protect the people around you from viruses such as cold, flu and COVID-19.
Stay home if you feel unwell. If you have a fever, cough and difficulty breathing, seek medical attention and call in advance. Follow the directions of your local health facility. Why? The national and provincial Departments of Health will have the most up to date information on the situation in your area. Calling in advance will allow your healthcare provider to quickly direct you to the right health facility. This will also protect you and help prevent spread of viruses and other infections.
Stay informed on the latest developments about COVID-19. Follow advice given by your healthcare provider and the national Department of Health on how to protect yourself and others from COVID-19. Why? National and local authorities will have the most up to date information on whether COVID-19 is spreading in your area. They are best placed to advise on what people in your area should be doing to protect themselves.
Protection measures for persons who are in or have recently visited (past 14 days) areas where COVID- 19 is spreading
Stay at home if you begin to feel unwell, even with mild symptoms such as headache and slight runny nose, until you recover. Why? Avoiding contact with others and visits to medical facilities will allow these facilities to operate more effectively and help protect you and others from possible COVID-19 and other viruses.
If you develop fever, cough and difficulty breathing, seek medical advice promptly as this may be due to a respiratory infection or other serious condition. Call in advance and tell your provider of any recent travel or contact with travelers. Why? Calling in advance will allow your healthcare provider to quickly direct you to the right health facility. This will also help to prevent possible spread of COVID-19 and other viruses.
The following measures to be implemented on construction sites:
To prevent the possible spreading of the COVID-19 virus from construction sites in suburb areas to neighboring properties, under no circumstances may any employee on the construction site have any contact with any of the neighbors.
There must at all times me a fence / solid boundary wall separating the construction site from the neighboring property.
If it is suspected that an employee on the construction site might have the COVID-19 virus, no employee may be allowed to leave the premises until the hotline number have been contacted and the correct procedures are followed.
The Principal Contractor must draft a procedure outlining where an employee will be kept in isolation on site until contact have been made with the relevant authorities on what procedure to be followed thereafter.
The Principal Contractor must ensure that there is at all times soap, water and disposable hand towels available for all employees on site so that they can regularly and thoroughly wash their hands.
The Principal Contractor must place up relevant signage at the eating areas and changing facilities on site promoting hand hygiene.
Educate employees and raise awareness of the COVID-19 virus, the symptoms, measures that can be followed to minimize the spread of the disease and the procedure to follow when suspecting that someone might have the disease.
Include all relevant information regards to COVID-19 virus in the site induction.
How long is the incubation period for COVID-19?
The “incubation period” means the time between catching the virus and beginning to have symptoms of the disease. Most estimates of the incubation period for COVID-19 range from 1-14 days, most commonly around five days.
How long does the virus survive on surfaces?
It is not certain how long the virus that causes COVID-19 survives on surfaces, but it seems to behave like other coronaviruses. Studies suggest that coronaviruses (including preliminary
information on the COVID-19 virus) may persist on surfaces for a few hours or up to several days. This may vary under different conditions (e.g. type of surface, temperature or humidity of the environment). If you think a surface may be infected, clean it with simple disinfectant to kill the virus and protect yourself and others. Wash your hands with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand sanitiser. Avoid touching your eyes, mouth, or nose.
Who should get tested?
The virus SARS-CoV-2 causes coronavirus disease 2019, also known as Covid-19. People with Covid-19 have symptoms including cough, sore throat, shortness of breath or fever — but these can also be signs of the flu.
You should only get tested if you have symptoms and have also done one of the following, says the National Institute of Communicable Diseases (NICD):
Been in contact with someone who has Covid-19;
Have travelled to a country where you have a high risk of getting infected? The NICD currently lists the following countries as high risk: China, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Vietnam, Taiwan, Italy and Iran but this list is updated regularly.
Have worked in or been to a healthcare facility treating people with Covid-19;
Have a severe case of pneumonia with an unknown cause.
Where should you go for a test?
If you think you might have contracted the virus, you should call the NICD helpline on 0800 029 999 for further instruction on how to get tested.
They will advise you where the closest public or private facility is for you to go for a test and how to access the facility.
What happens if I test positive for Covid-19?
Anyone who tests positive will be put in isolation at one of the hospitals designated to respond to the outbreak. You’ll remain there until tests show you no longer have the virus.
The following hospitals have been identified as centres of isolation and treatment of people infected with coronavirus;
Limpopo: Polokwane Hospital
Mpumalanga: Rob Ferreira Hospital
Gauteng: Charlotte Maxeke Hospital, Steve Biko Hospital, Tembisa Hospital
KwaZulu Natal: Grey’s Hospital
North West: Klerksdorp Hospital
Northern Cape: Kimberely Hospital
Free State: Pelonomi Hospital
Eastern Cape: Livingstone Hospital
Western Cape: Tygerberg Hospital
The NICD will then trace people who have been in close contact with the confirmed case. Anyone who could have come in contact with the patient in the week before they began to feel sick will be self-quarantined at home for 14 days.
This group includes everyone from family to health workers who may have seen them. The NICD will closely monitor them for any of the symptoms of Covid-19.
Response to possible case of COVID-19 amongst employees
All persons who meet the case definition should be isolated and provided with a mask. The person should be taken to the nearest pre-determined health centre where personnel are able to collect the sample, liaise with the NICD and further manage the patient. Only persons who conform to the case definition will be tested by the National Institute for Communicable Diseases, via determined protocols and with communication through established channels. Close contacts of the person with potential COVID-19 should be asked to self-isolate at home and avoid unnecessary social contact until the diagnosis is confirmed:
Travel should be avoided and the persons should be reachable for monitoring
The NICD Close Contact Monitoring Tool should be provided to contacts to assist in the monitoring
http://www.nicd.ac.za/wpcontent/uploads/2020/02/COVID_19_Symptom_Monitoring_tool__14.02.2020.pdf
Regular communication should be in place to detect problems early.